Photo © Rui Caria
Documentary - NOMINEE: Rui Caria
The refugrants
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In October I happened to be lucky enough to be able to do something that could take about 2 years to get authorized. I boarded a Portuguese navy vessel for a month to provide full coverage of the Frontex - Triton mission. Today, despite having learned so much, I know less than I thought I knew before I went; now I miss the difference between refugees and migrants. I have witnessed humanity and inhumanity. The expressions in their faces, made me know that saving people is the only thing that matters, even when their fate is uncertain.
The "refugrants" - the word does not exist yet, but perhaps we can begin to think of a new word that can describe the uncertain ones adrift.
They all sail in the same sea. Everyone sails on the same type of boat. Everyone is looking for a better life. They all run away from something.
Are they refugees or illegal migrants? The concept begins to dilute in the waters of the central Mediterranean Sea, when they appear in small makeshift wooden boats, with no much food, no much water, no much luck, but only hope.
"LAMPEDUSA, LAMPEDUSA!" They shout out the name of an island that they’re not quite sure which way it is.
They leave Tunisia and are labeled "illegal migrants”, because they sail without a flag, without registration and most of them don’t have any ID documents.
Some come well dressed, in designer clothes, some, carry large sums of money. Others, have no more than the few clothing they wear.
What is seen here is something new, different concepts are appearing, completely different people from those who simply flee from the dismembered countries and whom we have become accustomed to call refugees.
Migrants and refugees; “they’re all in the same boat”. Everyone expects to arrive in Europe, some say they want to work, others, come to join the family they ensure already there and others, they say nothing, they just come.
The "refugrants" - the word does not exist yet, but perhaps we can begin to think of a new word that can describe the uncertain ones adrift.
They all sail in the same sea. Everyone sails on the same type of boat. Everyone is looking for a better life. They all run away from something.
Are they refugees or illegal migrants? The concept begins to dilute in the waters of the central Mediterranean Sea, when they appear in small makeshift wooden boats, with no much food, no much water, no much luck, but only hope.
"LAMPEDUSA, LAMPEDUSA!" They shout out the name of an island that they’re not quite sure which way it is.
They leave Tunisia and are labeled "illegal migrants”, because they sail without a flag, without registration and most of them don’t have any ID documents.
Some come well dressed, in designer clothes, some, carry large sums of money. Others, have no more than the few clothing they wear.
What is seen here is something new, different concepts are appearing, completely different people from those who simply flee from the dismembered countries and whom we have become accustomed to call refugees.
Migrants and refugees; “they’re all in the same boat”. Everyone expects to arrive in Europe, some say they want to work, others, come to join the family they ensure already there and others, they say nothing, they just come.